Tim Wright is hoping to be in the mix in a deep and talented receiver corps for Rutgers this season. (Photo by Ian C. Bates/Asbury Park Press)

If there was a feel-good story in Rutgers scrimmage, this was it: Tim Wright scoring two touchdowns in his first true test following knee surgery.

“I needed that,” said a smiling Wright, a fourth-year junior from Wall Township who suffered a season-ending knee injury a week into preseason camp last summer. “I feel good. I’m not where I need to be. I’m halfway there, maybe a little more, but I’m just ready to get this season going. It was a year a couple days ago (since the injury), so it just felt great to be with my teammates doing the thing that I love.”

Though Rutgers’ receiving corps has no shortage of options this season, Tim Wright stated his case to be part of the equation Saturday, as he hauled in four passes for 45 yards, including touchdown receptions of 19 yards from Chas Dodd and two yards from Gary Nova.

“Last year I didn’t get to see him that much,” Dodd said. “He was hurt. This year it’s great. We got another big play-maker out there and today he showed that, had some nice catches and had a touchdown. Again, we just have a bunch of guys out there who can make some plays and he’s one of them.”

After he scored his first touchdown, Wright was mobbed in the end zone by teammates who know all-too-well the path he took to return. After being limited to non-contact drills in the spring, Wright was cleared in time to begin competing for his old spot atop the receiver depth chart.

“The people that tore their ACLs, the people that were in my shoes, and my teammates that are close to me, they just felt happy as if they did the play themselves,” Wright said. “It was real great to get those high fives.”

One of those high fives came from Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, who took a break from coordinating the defense to congratulate Wright as he returned to the sideline.

“Really good to see him back,” Schiano said. “(He made) nice catches, too. The one over here (was a) really nice over-the-shoulder catch. He’s a great kid, a great leader.”

Going into the day, Wright said the scrimmage represented his first true test since returning from his extensive rehabilitation. So what kind of grade would he give himself?

“From where it’s at now and where it came from, I’d give it an A,” Wright said, laughing. “I got hit in practice, but this is the first hit live. So it felt good. I just popped up and I was ready to go for the next one.”